Nasheed released

Former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed, who was arrested from a southern island on Monday, was released on Tuesday after being produced at a Criminal Court in Male.

“He is free now. He will join us tomorrow [Wednesday] in the southern islands for campaigning,” said Maldivian Democratic Party spokesperson Hamid Abdul Ghafoor. There was no clarity on why he was produced in a court in Male, when the arrest warrant was issued by a Magistrate in Hulhumale, a larger island near Male. Also, Mr. Nasheed’s party, the MDP, was clueless if the island-confining arrest on Mr. Nasheed still had currency.

“The MDP believes there is no chance of a fair trial in the Maldives for former President Nasheed. President Nasheed’s legal team has already complained about the extraordinary way the trial is being conducted,” the party said in a statement.

Mr. Nasheed was arrested on Monday by a heavily armed police n the island of Fares-Maathoda, in the southern atoll of Gaaf Dhaal. He was taken to Dhoonidhoo island detention centre, and later brought to Male.

Amnesty International, in a statement, said police in the Maldives used excessive force when arresting the former President. “We are deeply concerned about the reports of some police using violence around Mohamad Nasheed’s arrest, despite neither him nor his supporters offering any resistance,” said Abbas Faiz, Amnesty International’s Researcher on Maldives.